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Simon J. Marks
My background has inspired a desire to contribute toward natural resource management that strikes a careful balance between satisfying the anthropogenic and environmental resource requirements of today with those of the future. With my budding skills in research, hydrology, and statistical analysis, I am applying myself in water resource science as a graduate student. Taking great pride in my work, I hold myself, peers, and collaborators to high standards, while also exuding a calmness to minimize unnecessary stress.
Education
M.S., Environmental Sciences and Management
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, CA
current - 2019
- Thesis: Estimating evapotranspiration of a mountain meadow encroached by conifers using sap flow measurements
- Expected June 2021
B.S., Environmental Management and Protection (minor statistics)
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, CA
2019 - 2015
- Concentration: Watershed management and hydrology
- Summa cum laude
Research Experience
Graduate Research Assistant
Dr. Chris Surfleet’s Lab
California Polytechnic State University
current - 2019
- Primarily working with sap flow field data to quantify evapotranspiration of a conifer encroached meadow near Chester, CA
- Managed maintanance of field instruments at meadow restoration study sites and developed R scripts designed to streamline compilation and temporal aggregation of field data
- Performed regression analysis (MLR) to study hydrologic and suspended sediment effects of forest roads at the Capar Creek Experimental Watershed
Summer Undergraduate Researcher
Dr. Chris Surfleet’s Lab
California Polytechnic State University
2018 - 2018
- Completed sub-surface soil sampling, performed soil particle size distribution lab analysis, and computed soil hydraulic properties in support of meadow restoration research- presented results with a poster at an on campus research symposium to conclude the summer
- Cleaned and analyzed storm event peak flow and sediment discharge data collected at the Caspar Creek Experimental Watershed needed for distributed hydrology soil vegetation model (DHSVM) development
Industry Experience
Natural Resource Damage Assessment Intern
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Sacramento, CA
2017 - 2017
- Worked within the Office of Spill Prevention and Response on tasks related to injury assessment and environmental sampling including development of environmental reports, field documentation, checklists, and operating procedures
- Created an instructional ‘how to’ video detailing field procedures when collecting environmental samples following a deleterious material spill event
Teaching Experience
Watershed Processes and Management
Cal Poly NRES Dept.
San Luis Obispo, CA
current - 2019
- TA and lectured portions of the course laboratory
- Covered (all field based) streamflow measurement, stream channel and riparian assessment, road erosion hazard rating, and water quality measurement
Supplemental Workshops in Science Facilitator
Cal Poly Student Academic Services
San Luis Obispo, CA
2018 - 2016
- Facilitated medium to large groups of undergraduate students, providing supplemental instruction in biology and chemistry university coursework
- Promoted a sense of community encouraging communication and increasing collaboration between students
Academic Publications
Hydrologic and suspended sediment effects of forest roads using field and DHSVM modelling studies
Under-Review in Forest Ecology and Management (copy available upon request.)
N/A
2020 - 2020
- Authored with Chris Surfleet of the California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo NRES Dept.
Awards and Honors
Hull Graduate Assistantship
N/A
N/A
2019
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Dean’s List
N/A
N/A
2019 - 2015
Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP) Scholarship
N/A
N/A
2018